Former first-round pick Mikkel Boedker signs in Sweden

Any thought of a return to North America for Mikkel Boedker can be put to bed after the veteran forward signed a new one-year deal with HV71 in the SHL. The deal takes him out of Switzerland but continues his European career, this time a little closer to home.

Boedker, 32, played more than 700 games in the NHL and racked up 327 points, last seeing the ice with the Ottawa Senators in the 2019-20 season. For the past two years, he has been playing for Lugano, along with fellow NHL alumni like Mark Arcobello, Daniel Carr and Mirco Mueller. He’ll now head to HV71, just a few hours up the road from his hometown in Denmark.

A longtime member of the Danish national team, Boedker was part of the country's entry into this year’s Olympics after helping Denmark qualify for the event. He has a long international resume that even included a stint with Team Europe at the 2016 World Cup. He also holds the distinction of being the highest draft pick from Denmark, eighth overall to the Phoenix Coyotes in 2008.

Given his age and recent production, one can assume his NHL career is now over.